Breaking news: Blues WR had a dangerous attack today.
The Hockey News has made selections for each of its teams for NHL mid-season awards. Here are selections for the St. Louis Blues, who are 26-21-2 and currently holding down the second wild card position in the Western Conference:
MID-SEASON AWARDS
ART ROSS TROPHY: Robert Thomas, 52 points in 48 games
The center has fully assumed the role as the No. 1 center and has thrived on it even though he’s drawing all the top assignments from the opposition. He is projected to set career highs in goals (29), assists (60) and points (89).
ROCKET RICHARD TROPHY: Pavel Buchnevich, 17 goals in 46 games
Buchnevich is on pace to match his career-high in goals with 30; he’s tied with Robert Thomas for the team lead with 17 and eight of them have come on special teams, including two shorthanded.
HART TROPHY: Robert Thomas
St. Louis’ lone All-Star is tied for the most goals (17) and leads them in assists (35), points (52) and plus-minus (16) while averaging a career-high 20:56 time on ice.
NORRIS TROPHY: Colton Parayko
Parayko may be having his best season in St. Louis since he was paired with Jay Bouwmeester as the top shutdown pair in the Stanley Cup season of 2018-19. He won’t get consideration for the Norris Trophy, but is by far the Blues’ best.
VEZINA TROPHY: Jordan Binnington
Binnington continues to be the rock in net for the Blues for the sixth straight season and he’s on a tear these days and a primary reason the Blues closed out their pre-All-Star run of 5-1-0 by going 6-2-1 in January with a 2.09 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.
SELKE TROPHY: Robert Thomas
There are a number of Selke candidates around the league that will get more consideration than Thomas, but from a Blues perspective, nobody draws tougher assignments on this team and is still able to contribute at a high level.
CALDER TROPHY: Joel Hofer
Hofer has come in and stabilized the Blues’ goaltending situation and given them a solid 1-2 punch with Binnington. He probably deserves a better fate than the 9-8-0 record he has but does boast a 2.89 GAA and .909 save percentage.
MASTERTON TROPHY: Colton Parayko
Nobody exudes perseverance, dedication, sportsmanship more than Parayko, who rarely misses games and the only season he did in 2020-21, it was due to a herniated disk in his back and still continues to play top-end minutes for the Blues since he joined them in 2015-16.
LADY BYNG TROPHY: Jake Neighbours
Neighbours has burst onto the scene this season with 15 goals and has ascended himself into a top six forward while playing a hard, gritty, physical game, and has only taken three minor penalties in 49 games.
